Idioms & phrases: English Language Notes for Meghalaya PSC

Meghalaya PSC – English Language

Topic: Idioms & Phrases

Goal:
• Understand what idioms and phrases are
• Learn how to recognise, remember, and use them
• Practice with a realistic exam‑style example
• Quickly revise the most common idioms before the test

1. Simple Explanation

Term	Definition	Example
Idioms	Fixed expressions whose overall meaning is not obvious from the individual words.	“Break the ice” – to start a conversation in a relaxed way.
Phrases	A group of words that function as a single unit but may have a literal meaning.	“In the long run” – over a long period of time.

Key idea:
Idioms are figurative – they convey a meaning that is different from the literal words. Phrases can be literal or figurative.

2. Key Points

#	Point	Why It Matters for PSC
1	Identify the structure – Most idioms are verb + noun (e.g., spill the beans).	Helps you spot them in reading passages.
2	Literal vs figurative meaning – Know the literal meaning first, then the figurative.	Avoids “wrong meaning” errors in MCQs.
3	Common categories – Food & drink, money, weather, body parts, animals, etc.	Memorising by category speeds recall.
4	Usage in sentences – Idioms usually appear in normal clauses; they’re not usually changed or split.	Keep them intact when rewriting.
5	Practice with synonyms – Many idioms are equivalent to simpler phrases (e.g., hit the jackpot = win big).	Good for paraphrasing questions.
6	Cultural relevance – Some idioms are specific to Indian English; others are global.	Use the ones common in Indian exams.
7	Avoid literal translation – If you translate word‑by‑word, you’ll lose meaning.	Essential for comprehension questions.
8	Test patterns – PSCs use: 1) Multiple‑choice with meaning, 2) Fill‑in‑the‑blank, 3) Paraphrase, 4) Sentence completion.	Tailor practice accordingly.

3. Idioms Cheat‑Sheet (20 Most Common)

Idiom	Literal Meaning	Figurative Meaning	Sample Sentence
Break the ice	Break ice	Start a conversation	She told a joke to break the ice at the meeting.
Hit the nail on the head	Hit a nail	Be exactly right	Your analysis hit the nail on the head.
Cost an arm and a leg	Cost a body part	Very expensive	The new phone costs an arm and a leg.
Under the weather	Under weather	Feeling ill	I’m feeling under the weather today.
On thin ice	On thin ice	In a risky situation	He’s on thin ice after the accident.
Bite the bullet	Bite a bullet	Accept a painful task	I’ll bite the bullet and ask for a raise.
When pigs fly	Pigs flying	Impossible event	He’ll clean his room when pigs fly.
Let the cat out of the bag	Let a cat out	Reveal a secret	She let the cat out of the bag about the surprise.
Piece of cake	Piece of cake	Very easy	The test was a piece of cake.
Kick the bucket	Kick a bucket	Die	He kicked the bucket last year.
A blessing in disguise	A blessing in disguise	Something that turns out good	Missing the bus was a blessing in disguise.
By the skin of your teeth	By the skin of your teeth	Just barely	He passed the exam by the skin of his teeth.
Spill the beans	Spill the beans	Reveal a secret	Don’t spill the beans about the project.
Up in the air	Up in the air	Uncertain	The plan is still up in the air.
Burn the midnight oil	Burn the oil	Work late	She burned the midnight oil to finish the report.
Hit the road	Hit the road	Leave	Time to hit the road for the trip.
Call it a day	Call it a day	Stop working	Let’s call it a day and resume tomorrow.
Big fish in a small pond	Big fish in a small pond	Important in a small group	He’s a big fish in a small pond.
The ball is in your court	The ball is in your court	It’s your turn to act	I’ve made my offer; the ball is in your court.

Tip: Write each idiom on a flashcard with the meaning on the back. Review daily.

4. Worked Example – PSC‑Style Question

Question (Multiple Choice):
Complete the sentence with the correct idiom.

“During the meeting, the